• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.35-48
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• 1996

Non-biting midges fchironomidae, Dipteral are one of the largest insect families, which are distributed worldwidely and are found in nearly all types of inland waters. They are known to be aggressive inhalant allergens which cause allergenic diseases. In this study, the crude antigens of Chironomus SavipLumn adults which are most widely distributed in Korea were extracted. and their allergens were analysed with the sera from experimentally sensitized mice. The mice were immunized with $1{\;}\mu\textrm{g}{\;}or{\;}10{\;}\mu\textrm{g}$ of the crude antigens, respectively, and the specific serum IgE levels were measured by both ELISA and passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) techniques. The highest levels of both total IgE and chironomid-specific IgE were found in the mouse sera obtained after 9 weeks of the first infection with $1{\;}\mu\textrm{g}$ crude antigen. The crude antigen was separated into 16-18 protein bands on gel by SDS-PAGE. The crude extract was assessed by SDS-PAGE/immunoblot analysis. One IgE-binding band (65 kDa) was detected by developing with colorimetric substrate, and 4 IgE-binding bands (65, 52, 35 and 25 kDa) by developing with CSPD chemiluminescent substrate. The SDS-PAGE gel of the crude extract of chironomid adults was equally cut into 30 pieces and each of them was eluted to isolate proteins by molecular weight, and the allergenicity of each eluate was assessed by applying P-K test on rats. Proteins of 65, 35 and 15 KDa showed the highest P-K titer (${\times}512$) which was 16 times higher than that of the crude extract (${\times32}$). The P-K titer of 52 kDa protein was also 4 times higher ($128{\times}$) than that of the crude extract, whereas the 25 kDa protein poorly responded, which seemed not antigenic. In conclusion, the present result in mice demonstrated that adults of Chironomus fcuiplumus, a predominent species in Korea, cause allergenic diseases and the main allergens are 65, 52, 35 and 15 kDa proteins, of which 65 kDa protein seems to be a main allergen.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.53-62
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• 2013

Purpose: The cross-protection of 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7) against vaccine-related serotypes has been controversial. We investigated the serological properties of cross-protective antibodies against vaccine-related serotypes 6A, 6C, and 19A induced in young children aged 12-23 months after booster immunization of PCV7. Methods: IgG and IgM antibody concentrations and opsonic index (OI) against vaccine serotypes 6B and 19F and vaccine-related serotypes 6A, 6C, and 19A were measured by ELISA and opsonophagocytic killing assay (OPA) in 4 selected immunesera. The serological properties and antigenic specificity of protective antibodies were determined by IgM depletion of immunesera, OPA, and competitive OPA against serogroup 6 and 19 pneumococci. Results: Compared to pre-IgM depleted immunesera, OI of IgM-depleted immunesera against 6B and 19F decreased and OI against 6A, 6C, and 19A decreased, too. In competition OPA, free 6B and 19F polysaccharide completely inhibited the immune protection against vaccine-related serotypes 6A, 6C, and 19A as well as vaccine types 6B and 19F. Conclusions: The booster immunization of PCV7 certainly induced cross-protective antibodies against vaccine-related serotypes 6A, 6C, and 19A with both IgG and IgM isotypes. Furthermore, IgM antibodies are more highly contributed to opsonophagocytic activity against vaccine-related serotypes as well as most of vaccine types than do IgG antibodies. Further studies are needed for the more immunized sera in the children as well as adults.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.284-288
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• 2001

Respiratory viruses are one of the most infectious agent in human. Six different respiratory tract viruses were detected from Busan while working on the preventive surveillance in 1997-2000. The isolation rate from suspected specimens were 8.4%. Influenza virus A, B type, parainfluenza virus, adenovirus, mumps virus, and measles virus were examined from throat swabs, serum, and secretions of patients. Influenza A/Sydney/05/97(H3N2)-like, A/Johanesburg/33/94(H3N2)-like, A/Beijing/262/95(H1N1)-like and Influenza B/Beijing/262/95-like, B/Harbin/07/94-like, B/Guangdong/08/93-like were found. Adenovirus serotype 1, 2, 3 and 5 were detected, antibody of mumps both IgM and IgG were shown and outbreaks of measles were confirmed. Different antigenic types of influenza virus were detected every year, one outbreak of parainfluenza in 1999, mumps outbreak in 1999 and 2000, and incidence of measles in 2000 were noticeable. Monthly outbreaks were November through following March with influenza virus, January through June with adenovirus, February through May and December with mumps, April through August and November, December with measles, respectively. The size of isolated viruses were 130 nm with influenza virus B type, non-enveloped, icosahedron with 70 nm with adenovirus, 170 nm with mumps virus and 180 nm with parainfluenza virus in diameter, respectively.